"BlackBerry 10 is completely different from previous BlackBerry operating systemsâ€"with good reason. Its core assets come from a company named QNX, which Research In Motion acquired in 2010. Blackberry 10 features include 'live tiles' that dynamically refresh with new information, as well as a revamped keyboard and security upgrades. But what really makes or breaks a phone is the quality (and quantity) of its third-party apps. So what we'll do here is look at the programming API. That will give us a good grip on what app developers can do with the platform."

because the old blackberry systems were down right hostile from a 3rd party developer perspective...

It was hostile to everyone except, as someone else mentioned, Luddite IT managers and execs. I had a Pearl and it sucked the devils balls and not only due to the embarrassingly expensive data plans. Trackball? Great idea until you realise that it's on a phone, a device that you will handle with greasy and dirty fingers. Yeah, those usually didn't last long without breaking and then it took weeks to have them serviced.
Nice, useful apps? ....what apps? Want to integrate with your company email? Yeah, fat chance if you don't use Exchange.